David J. Brightbill

David Brightbill
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 48th district
In office January 6, 1981 – November 30, 2006
Preceded by	Clarence Manbeck
Succeeded by	Mike Folmer
Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office January 2, 2001 – November 30, 2006
Preceded by	Joseph Loeper
Succeeded by	Dominic Pileggi
Republican Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office January 7, 1997 – November 30, 2000
Preceded by	Michael Fisher
Succeeded by	Jeff Piccola
In office January 2, 1989[1] – November 30, 1990
Preceded by	Joseph Loeper
Succeeded by	Michael Fisher
Personal details
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Pennsylvania State University, Duquesne University School of Law
Occupation	Politician, Attorney

David J. "Chip" Brightbill is a former member and Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He is a member of the Republican Party

He was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Jonathan and Verda (McGill) Brightbill and attended Pennsylvania Military College for two years before graduating from Pennsylvania State University in 1964. He went on to obtain a law degree at Duquesne University School of Law in 1970. Prior to being elected to the Senate in 1982, he served as Lebanon County District Attorney from 1977 to 1981. He was elected Majority Whip in 1989 and 1997 by the Republican caucus and became the Majority Leader in 2001 after Senator Joseph Loeper resigned in December 2000.^[2]

Brightbill served the 48th district, including all of Lebanon County, portions of Berks, Dauphin, and Lancaster Counties, and the Chester County borough of Elverson.

He was named runner up for the 2003 Politician of the Year by the political website PoliticsPA, who noted his growing influence in the 2003 budget negotiations.^[3]

Brightbill was defeated in the May 2006 Republican primary election by tire salesman Mike Folmer, receiving 36.8% of the vote.^[4] Brightbill's defeat was largely attributed to anger generated over a legislative pay raise vote in July 2005.^[5]

At the end of his term, Brightbill joined the Reading law firm of Stevens & Lee in their government affairs practice.

On May 19, 2007, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Elizabethtown College.

See also

• 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy

References

1. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com
2. ^ Pennsylvania Manual: Floor Leaders
3. ^ "Politician of the Year". PoliticsPA. 2003. Archived from the original on 2004-04-05. http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year03.htm. 
4. ^ Election Returns, Pennsylvania Department of State
5. ^ Republican Leaders Fall, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 17, 2006

Party political offices
Preceded by Joseph Loeper	Republican Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate 1989–1990	Succeeded by Michael Fisher
Preceded by Michael Fisher	Republican Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate 1997–2000	Succeeded by Jeff Piccola
Preceded by Joseph Loeper	Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate 2001–2006	Succeeded by Dominic Pileggi
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Clarence Manbeck	Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 48th District 1981–2006	Succeeded by Mike Folmer

Persondata
Name	Brightbill, David J.
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth
Place of birth	Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death